Aye, if it is actually methamphetamine then I'd suggest speaking to someone. It's a world apart from most stimulants and even recreational use is pretty full on. Any idea how regularly he's using it at the moment (e.g. partying with mates at weekend and midweek use too)?

He has admitted to using it a couple of times a month but I suspect it may be more...

he's smoking it apparently....is that possible?

Anyone I know who has taken meth has smoked it. It's super addictive. It's not the sort of thing you take on a Saturday night and then lie in bed feeling grim on Sunday - it's a binge drug, you (apparently) keep going until you run out or keel over. I've seen people in worrying states after a few days of recreational "fun"

Despite what the Daily Mail will tell you, you can get stuck into the recreational pharmacuticals with no drama's as long as you stick within a few pre-ordained rules. Millions of people have, every weekend, with no ill effects

Don't take anything you can become physically dependent on is one of the clear lines in the sand though. And crystal meth is seriously addictive! He'll need professional help to get him off that shit, if thats what he's got into. Nasty nasty stuff

A friend of mine smoked plenty of weed, took coke and pills and tried acid when they were at uni (and for a year or so afterwards). They gave it up when it was time to grow up and it hasn't had any long term effects whatsoever.

Meth, as others have said, is a simply horrible drug and pretty much any user will need proper help i.e. not from a mountainbike forum. I know this 2nd hand as none of my friend's friends would have gone near that stuff. Like Binners and Peter, it's a line many or most wouldn't cross. Ketamine is often (in their experience) taken by student types without any serious effects, although there was a phrase "sharpie (the permanent marker) the a-hole in the k-hole" i.e. draw a big [word blocked by swear filter] on their forehead.

With nyour vagueness, I obviously don't know what your relationship is to anyone involved but the parents will need support too. Remember that and good luck.

If its methampetamine and that young person casually doing it, im afraid its not as easy as getting him to a doctor and fix him. .. This kind of substance is nasty and its a "once in, never out" kinda drugs. For him to change it needs everything to change.. Like environment, common friends that are hook with it etc.. Some people do turnaround though but at great expense... And in his own freewill.

Are you sure it's meth-amphetamine though? It's still relatively uncommon in the UK (assuming you're in the UK) whereas methedrone (not methaDONE)a synthetic stimulant is everywhere. Shake the nearest teenager and a bag of MCAT is likely to fall to the ground.

Ketamine on the other hand is dependent on frequency/amount used. Occasional/sensible use like many things is reasonably safe (It's used in hospitals as an anaesthetic, with a therapeutic dose being far higher than a recreational dose. The problem with K (apart from falling down some stairs or something while in a K-Hole) is that there's evidence that it rots your innards after long-term use. Bladder/urinary problems etc.

Edit: Just noticed that you said he's smoking it, which would suggest methampthetamine.

Despite what the Daily Mail will tell you, you can get stuck into the recreational pharmacuticals with no drama's as long as you stick within a few pre-ordained rules. Millions of people have, every weekend, with no ill effects

You should start an educational program with that piece of sage advice. Not the kind of message I'll be passing onto my offspring.

You should start an educational program with that piece of sage advice. Not the kind of message I'll be passing onto my offspring.

That's EXACTLY the kind of drug education that doesn't work though.

Kids are told "drugs are bad, take an ecstasy tablet and you'll die, smoke weed and you'll end up on crack" etc.

Then they try it once, they realise it's not so bad and that no only did they not die, they felt better than OK.

So, armed with absolutely bugger all USEFUL drug education and obviously no chance of approaching their parents for advice, they embark on a recreational drug adventure, discovering things by trial and error.

Far better to prepare kids for the reality. Not all drugs are evil, most in fact are pretty safe if basic rules are followed (unless of course you're disputing Nutt et al)..."Like alcohol, all drugs can be extremely dangerous, there are some basic rules and safe guidelines which you MUST always pay attention to....".

My kids will be told about recreational drugs in the same way they are told about alcohol.

Trying to keep kids from trying drugs by saying they are bad is about as effective as trying to stop a train with your teeth. Arm your kids with the ability to make their own decisions and give them the knowledge they need to keep safe. The rest is completely out of your hands.

Well said Peterfile. It's like trying to reduce teenage and unwanted pregnancy by telling teenagers not to have sex. Much better to educate them and tell them how to do it safely.

As for the kid in question, doesnt sound like a good place to be. As mentioned already, methamphetamine is a really nasty drug that will cause a lot of damage if he continues to take it. Best to seek professional help as quickly as possible. The fact that he's admitted it though is a good first sign.

You should start an educational program with that piece of sage advice. Not the kind of message I'll be passing onto my offspring.

That's EXACTLY the kind of drug education that doesn't work though.

Kids are told "drugs are bad, take an ecstasy tablet and you'll die, smoke weed and you'll end up on crack" etc.

Then they try it once, they realise it's not so bad and that no only did they not die, they felt better than OK.

So, armed with absolutely bugger all USEFUL drug education and obviously no chance of approaching their parents for advice, they embark on a recreational drug adventure, discovering things by trial and error.

Far better to prepare kids for the reality. Not all drugs are evil, most in fact are pretty safe if basic rules are followed (unless of course you're disputing Nutt et al)..."Like alcohol, all drugs can be extremely dangerous, there are some basic rules and safe guidelines which you MUST always pay attention to....".

My kids will be told about recreational drugs in the same way they are told about alcohol.

Trying to keep kids from trying drugs by saying they are bad is about as effective as trying to stop a train with your teeth. Arm your kids with the ability to make their own decisions and give them the knowledge they need to keep safe. The rest is completely out of your hands.

So let me get this right. You will be delivering the message

you can get stuck into the recreational pharmacuticals with no drama's as long as you stick within a few pre-ordained rules.

How did the kid get a dealer for that kind of drug though is a big question

I suppose this leads down the criminal line of discussion. With drugs being illegal, their distribution naturally falls in to the hands of the far from desirable elements of society. Added to this, as there's no 'control mechanism', heaven only knows what gets put in to the mixing bowl when they're being made.

Now, is the answer to control/legalise the trade in drugs? I'm not so sure. As above, there's far more benefit to proper education, IMHO.

Kids are told "drugs are bad, take an ecstasy tablet and you'll die, smoke weed and you'll end up on crack" etc.

Then they try it once, they realise it's not so bad and that no only did they not die, they felt better than OK.

So, armed with absolutely bugger all USEFUL drug education and obviously no chance of approaching their parents for advice, they embark on a recreational drug adventure, discovering things by trial and error.

Far better to prepare kids for the reality. Not all drugs are evil, most in fact are pretty safe if basic rules are followed (unless of course you're disputing Nutt et al)..."Like alcohol, all drugs can be extremely dangerous, there are some basic rules and safe guidelines which you MUST always pay attention to....".

My kids will be told about recreational drugs in the same way they are told about alcohol.

Trying to keep kids from trying drugs by saying they are bad is about as effective as trying to stop a train with your teeth. Arm your kids with the ability to make their own decisions and give them the knowledge they need to keep safe. The rest is completely out of your hands.

Davesport. The problem with telling kids all illegal drugs are evil and will damage you is that it's patently untrue. Kids will find this out for themselves and if you lump them all together then the "Heroin is dangerous " advice will be ignored in the same way as they will learn to ignore the "weed is dangerous" advice.

I used to take quite a lot of narcs when I was really into clubbing and have tried crystal meth before- I don't think it's necessarily as bad as people above are making out but it's impossible to say without knowing the person involved I guess. Certainly lots of people take it recreationally without any problems, but meth wasn't really very commonly available when I was into that whole scene though. Never smoked the stuff either actually.

Most drugs are no different to alcohol in that people largely can use them responsibly or even irresponsibly without a problem but there will always be a small portion of people who end up getting into trouble with it.

I don't think it's necessarily as bad as people above are making out but it's impossible to say without knowing the person involved I guess.

A 16 year old smoking meth is on the wrong end of the spectrum IMO though, regardless of the person.

If you're already a seasoned recreational user of stims through clubbing etc, then if you do arrive at meth you do so with your eyes wide open. not sure the same can be said for a kid at school.

If my kid came home at 18 and told me they'd tried ecstasy at a nightclub, I'd not be concerned about them ending up on a slippery slope, probably just worried that they were going to start bunking off Monday lectures because they sat at a house party until sunday afternoon.

However if my 16 year old owned up to smoking meth i'd be very, very concerned.